Hybrid Intelligence as a Carrier of Disinformation and HYbrid Threats in Cyberspace

Social networks have become powerful media and communication tools that provide adequate support to state actors in cyberspace when planning and execution of influence operations. In this context, new patterns in planning and conducting covert offensive information operations will be presented, where artificial intelligence systems used by social networks play a crucial role. On a tactical level, these systems are utilized to exploit users' personal data on social networks regarding their political, ideological, and religious beliefs, as well as tendencies towards violent extremism, radicalism and terrorism, to create hybrid threats. The main hybrid threat presented here is automated and anonymous disinformation that adapts to these beliefs and tendencies. Hybrid intelligence is depicted as a key factor that has enabled the use of this category of user data for the creation of hybrid threats in cyberspace.The article aims to underscore that artificial intelligence systems used by social networks have enabled more effective exploitation of weaknesses in political and social systems based on personal data about the beliefs and tendencies of social media users who are not sufficiently aware of it. The application of hybrid intelligence has further complicated the counteraction and timely recognition, mitigation, and deterrence of the potential harmful consequences of hybrid threats.